A Guide to Getting Started with CliftonStrengths

A Guide to Getting Started With CliftonStrengths

Coaching Individuals and Teams to Thrive

What would happen if you and your team spent more time focusing on what’s right with you?

CliftonStrengths (formerly StrengthsFinder) is more than an assessment - it’s a powerful tool for understanding natural talents and applying them to work and life. As a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, I help individuals and teams move beyond simply knowing their strengths to using them with intention - building clarity, confidence, and connection in the process.

At Spark Engagement, we design coaching sessions and workshops that equip people to use their strengths meaningfully - whether you’re an individual ready to lean into your natural talents or a leader looking to spark a strengths-based culture on your team.

For Individuals: Discovering and Applying Your Strengths

You’ve probably taken assessments before and thought, “Now what?” Without guidance, it’s easy for strengths to remain words on a page instead of tools for growth.

1.  Take the CliftonStrengths Assessment
   In about 30 minutes, you’ll discover your unique combination of talents and receive a report that identifies your Top 5 or all 34 CliftonStrengths themes.
2. Turn Insight Into Action
   As your coach, I help you explore how your talents show up in your work and life, uncover what energizes you, and create strategies to apply your strengths intentionally. Together, we’ll clarify how to aim your talents toward your goals - whether you’re navigating a career change, building confidence as a leader, or simply ready for what’s next.
3. Why It Matters
   Gallup’s research shows that people who use their strengths daily are 6x more likely to be engaged at work and 3x more likely to report an excellent quality of life. Coaching helps you bridge the gap between insight and impact.

For Teams: Building a Strengths-Based Culture

Great teams don’t just happen - they’re built through self-awareness, understanding, and intentional leadership.

In our team trainings, we start by helping each person explore their own strengths, then expand to how these talents show up in relationships and team dynamics. This approach creates a shared language of strengths - giving team members the words and framework to better understand themselves and one another.

Coaching helps teams move from simply knowing their collective talents to aiming those talents toward shared goals - improving collaboration, productivity, and results.

At Spark Engagement, we design strengths-based coaching experiences for teams of all sizes - from partnerships to entire organizations - that spark meaningful conversations, build trust, and equip your people to take the next step together.

Here’s how we guide teams:

1. Step 1: Discover Strengths
   Each team member completes the CliftonStrengths assessment to uncover their natural talents.
2. Step 2: Build Individual Awareness
   In the first session, I help team members reflect on their results and consider how their strengths shape the way they work and interact.
3. Step 3: Create a Shared Language and Apply It Together
   Once individuals have a strong foundation, we explore the team’s collective strengths. Together, we identify how to communicate more effectively, leverage natural talent, and align strengths to achieve team priorities.

This process connects directly to Gallup’s Q12 element:
“At work, I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day.”

When employees know and use their strengths, engagement rises - and so do results.

Why Coaching and Professional Development Matter

Strengths-based development isn’t just about knowing your top themes. It’s about creating a culture where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to do their best work. We create a safe, engaging space for individuals and teams to grow - whether we’re meeting in person or virtually.

Ready to Spark Your Strengths?

For individuals: Schedule a coaching session to discover your strengths and learn how to aim them toward your goals and take the next step. This one-hour virtual coaching session could be just the Spark you need.

For teams: We can design a customized professional development experience to spark awareness, build trust, and help your team align their strengths to move forward together. These sessions can be incorporated into regularly scheduled team meetings or designed as a focused half-day or full-day professional development experience.

When people understand their strengths, they show up differently - to their work, their team, and themselves. Let’s take the first step toward creating that shift.